In his remarks, Trump asserted there would be “crime, chaos, destruction and death” if his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, is elected. He promised “law, order, safety and peace” if voters send him back to the White House.
Trump’s campaign deferred comment on the campaign finance complaints to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office.
“I don’t believe I violated the campaign finance act,” Murphy said in an email to Bridge Michigan. “I welcome the investigation.
Michigan’s campaign finance law covers state elections and candidates running for state office, while the Federal Election Commission enforces federal campaign finance laws in federal races. The distinction leaves open questions about the how, if at all, Michigan’s rules could apply in a presidential campaign event.
It’s not the first time Murphy, a Republican, has drawn scrutiny for alleged campaign finance violations.
The state determined he broke the law after appearing in uniform with a department vehicle in a 2018 gubernatorial campaign video for Republican Bill Schuette.
In that case, the Michigan Bureau of Elections determined Murphy used public resources for what amounted to a campaign contribution to Schuette because he “appeared numerous times in uniform for the commercial, and that a Livingston County Sheriff’s vehicle was featured prominently through most of the commercial and all of this was staged.”
Murphy ultimately paid $100 to the state and another $100 to the county as a reimbursement in order to settle the matter in 2019.
